Admissions Policy 2020- 2021 - St Mary's Catholic Primary School
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St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
Admissions Policy 2020- 2021
Date adopted: November 2018
Review date: November 2019
Staff responsible: Isobel Vassallo and Liz Tracey
Governors= responsible: Allison Thornton
Academic Year 2020/ 2021 St Mary’s Catholic Primary SchoolSt Mary’s Catholic Primary School is an academy school in the Diocese of Southwark. It is in the
trusteeship of the Diocese. The school is conducted by its Governing Body, as part of the
Catholic Church, in accordance with its Trust Deed and Instrument of Government and seeks at
all times to be a witness to Jesus Christ.
As a Catholic school, we aim to provide a Catholic education for all our pupils. At a Catholic
school, the Catholic doctrine and practice permeates every aspect of the school’s activity. It is
essential that the Catholic character of the school’s education is fully supported by all families
in the school.
The school exists primarily to serve Catholic families who regularly worship at the parishes of
St Edmund’s Beckenham; St Mark’s West Wickham and The Holy Rosary Hayes. Subject to the
availability of places, the Governing Body welcomes applications from Catholic families from
other parishes as well as those of other denominations and faiths who support the religious
ethos of the school.
The Governing Body has responsibility for admissions to this school and having consulted with
the local authority and other admission authorities, intends to admit 60 pupils to Reception in
the school year, which begins September 2020. Additional children will be admitted to Year 3
bringing the number to 64. Children will be admitted without reference to ability or aptitude.
Where there are more applicants than available places, the places will be offered to children
falling into the following categories and order of priority:-
1. Looked after Catholic children or looked after children in the care of Catholic families
and previously looked after Catholic children who have been adopted or who have
become the subject of a residence or guardianship order.
2. Baptised Catholic children who have at least one parent or guardian who is a
committed and practising Catholic and worships at St. Edmund’s Beckenham, St. Mark’s
West Wickham, or Holy Rosary, Hayes. For admission to Reception, eighteen places will
be allocated to St Mark’s, eleven places to Holy Rosary and all remaining places
allocated to St Edmund’s. If the quota of places allocated to St Mark’s and Holy Rosary
is not used, the quota will be transferred to children from St Edmund’s.
Where the number of children within this category exceeds the number of places
available, priority will be given to:
2a) Baptised Catholic children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time
of admission;
2b) Applications will be ranked in the order shown on the Supplementary Form.
Highest priority to those who attend Mass weekly, then at least once a month, etc.
2c) Places will then be offered to children living nearest the school. Measurements of
distance will be taken in a straight line from the front door of home to the main door
of the school. The distance will be supplied by the local authority derived from their
computerised mapping system that identifies the unique national grid reference
(Easting and Northing) for the property. Where the last remaining place is to be
allocated and two or more children are deemed to live at the same distance from the
school the place will be decided by the drawing of lots.
Academic Year 2020/ 2021 St Mary’s Catholic Primary School3. Baptised Catholic children who are each certified by a priest of the parish to have at
least one parent or guardian who is both a committed and practising Catholic and a
member of a parish not mentioned into category (3) above;
3a) Baptised Catholic children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time
of admission;
3b) Applications will be ranked in the order shown on the Supplementary Form.
Highest priority to those who attend Mass weekly, then at least once a month, etc.
3c) Places will then be offered to children living nearest the school. Measurements of
distance will be taken in a straight line from the front door of home to the main door
of the school. The distance will be supplied by the local authority derived from their
computerised mapping system that identifies the unique national grid reference
(Easting and Northing) for the property. Where the last remaining place is to be
allocated and two or more children are deemed to live at the same distance from the
school the place will be decided by the drawing of lots.
4. Other baptised Catholic children.
5. Other looked after children.
6. Other children.
The following order of priorities will be applied when applications within criteria 4, 5 or 6
exceed the places available and it is necessary to decide between applications -
a) A brother or sister on the school roll at the time of admission.
b) Places will then be offered to children living nearest the school. Measurements of
distance will be taken in a straight line from the front door of home to the main door of the
school. The distance will be supplied by the local authority derived from their computerised
mapping system. Where the last remaining place is to be allocated and two or more children
are deemed to live at the same distance from the school the place will be decided by the
drawing of lots.
Admission of children below compulsory school age
The governors will provide for the admission of all children in the September following their
fourth birthday. Parents can request that the date their child is admitted to the school is
deferred until later in the school year or until the child reaches compulsory school age in that
school year; parents may also request that their child attends part-time until the child reaches
compulsory school age. Children born between 1 April and 31 August 2016 and offered a place
for admission in the 2020-21 academic year will be expected to join the school by the start of
the 2021 Summer term.
Admission of children outside their normal age group
Parents of summer born, gifted and talented children, or those who have experienced problems
or missed part of a year, for example due to ill health, can seek places outside their normal
age group. It is not an automatic right to choose this option, as decisions will be made on the
basis of the circumstances of each case and in the best interests of the child concerned. The
views of the Headteacher must also be taken into account.
Academic Year 2020/ 2021 St Mary’s Catholic Primary SchoolTwins, triplets and other multiple births: where twins, triplets or children from other multiple
births qualify for the last school place to be allocated, the school will admit all of the
qualifying siblings in excess of the published admissions limit and they will be considered as
‘excepted pupils’.
Admissions procedure
In addition to the Common Application Form (CAF) supplied by the Local Authority, the
Supplementary Information Form (available from the school), should be completed and sent to
the Admissions Officer at the school not later than the closing date published by the Local
Authority. This should be done even if the CAF is completed online. If the Supplementary
Information Form is not completed, the governing body will only be able to consider the
application after all applicants who have completed a Supplementary Information Form. Offers
of places will be sent to parents by the Local Authority on the common offer date as notified.
Where incorrect information is used to unfairly gain a place then the governors will
immediately withdraw any place offered.
Appeals
Parents whose applications for places are unsuccessful may appeal to an Independent Appeal
Panel set up in accordance with section 85(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.
Appeals must be made in writing and must set out the reasons on which the appeal is made.
Appeals should be made to the Admissions Appeal Clerk at the school address. Parents/Carers
have the right to make oral representations to the Appeal Panel.
Infant classes are restricted by the legislation to 30 children. Parents should be aware that an
appeal against refusal of a place in an infant class may only succeed if it can be demonstrated
that:-
a) the admission of additional children would not breach the infant class size limit; or
b) the admission arrangements did not comply with admissions law or had not been
correctly and impartially applied and the child would have been offered a place if the
arrangements had complied or had been correctly and impartially applied; or
c) the panel decides that the decision to refuse admission was not one which a
reasonable admission authority would have made in the circumstances of the case.
Waiting Lists
Parents of children who have not been offered a place at the school may ask for their child’s
name to be placed on a waiting list. The waiting list will be operated using the same admissions
criteria listed above. Parents should note that the waiting list expires at the end of December
of the first Reception term, and at the end of each academic year thereafter for all year
groups. Placing a child’s name on the waiting list does not guarantee that a place will become
available. This does not prevent parents from exercising their right to appeal against the
decision not to offer a place. It is possible that when a child is directed under the local
authority’s fair access protocol they will take precedence over those children already on the
list.
Late Applications
Any late applications will be considered by the Governors' Admissions Committee, in the event
of there being any available places, using the above criteria. If all places have been filled,
Academic Year 2020/ 2021 St Mary’s Catholic Primary Schoolparents will be offered the opportunity of placing their child’s name on the waiting list. This does not prevent parents from exercising their right to appeal against the decision not to offer a place. This admissions procedure, although primarily relevant to children for whom a place is sought at the normal age of entry to primary education (Year R), will also apply to succeeding years, and be subject to the availability of places. Children directed via the Fair Access Protocol will take precedence over any child already on the school waiting list, and this includes admitting children over the published admission number. (‘Brother or sister’ means children who live as brother and sister, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers or sisters. It does not include other relatives. In every case the child must be living in the same family unit at the same address) Academic Year 2020/ 2021 St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
Supplementary Information Form 2020-2021
This form should be completed when applying for a place in a Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Southwark.
Please complete and sign the form below and, if you are Catholic, hand it to your parish priest or the parish
priest at the church at which you normally worship. He will add his reference in Part 2. If you are not a Catholic,
please hand the form to your priest, minister or faith leader who will add his or her reference in Part 3. NB You
must also complete and return a Common Application Form (available from Local Authorities). When
complete, please return the form to St Mary’s Catholic Primary School by Friday 10th January 2020.
PART 1 (To be completed by all parents or carers)
School to which you are applying:
Address of school:
Surname of child: Christian/forename(s) of child:
Date of birth:
Religion/Denomination: (eg Roman Catholic)
Boy Girl
Date and place of Baptism (if applicable):
Parents’ names:
Parents’ religions/denominations:
Home address:
Postcode:
Contact numbers: Home: Work:
If Catholic, indicate which Mass you normally attend:
Saturday at (time) or Sunday at (time)
Parish in which you worship (eg Holy Rosary, Hayes) :
How long have you worshipped there? years
How often do you attend Mass? weekly at least once a month less often
I confirm that the information given on this form is accurate and truthful:
Signed: Parent/carer Date:
Academic Year 2020/ 2021 St Mary’s Catholic Primary SchoolPART 2 (To be completed by Catholic priests only)
I am satisfied that the child is a baptised Catholic Yes No
Evidence of practice:
PARENT/CARER CHILD
Are the parents known to you? Yes No Is the child known to you? Yes No
Regular attendance at Mass Regular attendance at Mass
(i.e. weekly) (i.e. weekly)
Occasional attendance at Mass Occasional attendance at Mass
(i.e. at least once a month) (i.e. at least once a month)
Irregular attendance at Mass Irregular attendance at Mass
(i.e. less than once a month) (i.e. less than once a month)
Priest’s name: Parish (or ethnic chaplaincy):
Address: Tel:
Parish stamp or seal
Priest’s signature: Date:
PART 3 (To be completed only by priests/ministers of other denominations or faiths)
Non-Catholic parents/carers from other denominations or faiths should hand this form to their
priest/minister or faith leader who should complete the section below and return it as soon as
possible to the school indicated over.
I confirm that this family are members of our faith community The family is not known to me
Name of minister: Denomination/faith: Parish or faith community:
Address: Tel.:
Signed: Date:
To the priest, minister or other faith leader: Please ensure this form is completed and returned to the
school as soon as possible.
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